Combined cigarette lighter casing and slidable closure

ABSTRACT

A combined cigarette lighter casing and attachment clasp which slidably engages the top portion of a cigarette pack to provide a convenient placing of the lighter and a slidable closure for the pack.

United States Patent Yvette Boasso Kopp 856 l'lidalgo St., New Orleans, La. 70124 831,137

June 6, 1969 Sept. 28, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 734,844, June 4, 1968, now abandoned Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 734,846, June 4, 1968, now abandoned.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented COMBINED CIGARETTE LIGHTER CASING AND SLIDABLE CLOSURE 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 206/413,. 131/l35,431/139 Int. Cl ..A24t 15/00, B65d 85/ 10 [50] Field of Search 206/41 C, 41D,41H,41.3,41.4,48,38 B; 131/135; 431/139, 343,255

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,568 4/1941 Rothar 206/48 2,782,910 2/1957 Leibow... 206/414 3,057,180 10/1962 Steppan 206/414 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Atwrney.lames B. Lake, .lr.

ABSTRACT: A combined cigarette lighter casing and attachment clasp which slidably engages the top portion of a cigarette pack to provide a convenient placing of the lighter and a slidable closure for the pack.

PATENT EU SEP28 l97| 3 608 7 04 INVENTOR. YVETTE BOASSO KOPP sy' melic aeai ATTORNE COMBINED CIGARETTE LIGHTER CASING AND SLIDABLE CLOSURE Cross-References to Related Applications This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 734,844, entitled Lighter Clip Carrier Magnetized Cigarette Lighter" and Ser. No. 734,846, entitled Cigarette Lighter Case," both filed June 4, 1968 now abandoned.

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Although combined lighters and clips are, broadly speaking,

old in the art (note for example the US Fat. to Steppan, No. 3,057,] 80, issued Oct. 9, I962, entitled "Lighter and Cigarette Package Holder"), none have achieved all the advantages of the present invention, particularly the providing of closure means as well as a lighter casing in a simple and reliable structure.

It is thus broadly an object of the present invention to provide a carrying object for-a cigarette lighter with a means for retaining cigarettes and cigarette lighter together in a simple but reliable structure.

It is a further object to have such a carrying object serve as a slidable closure for the top of a cigarette package.

One object of the invention is to present an article which can be integrated to a cigarette package to provide a unity structure combining a cigarette pack with a cigarette lighter.

Another object lies in the provision of an article of this type which is detachably secured to a cigarette package so that it may serve continuously and may be applied to a new package after the previous one is emptied and without any change in construction.

The invention was designed with the serviceman in mind but is for all smokers. It is particularly useful with the one-armed handicapped because the invention can be fully utilized both as a lighter and as a closure with the use of only one hand.

It will also be found that the invention lends itself very well to the application and use of a miniature lighter, thereby substantially decreasing the bulk and weight of the standard lighter.

In the inventive design only the empty cigarette package is to be replaced when empty and the cigarettes and lighter are and will be together at all times. There is no searching for lighter and/or cigarettes; if you have one, you have the other at your fingertips.

Additionally, because the invention is attached to the top of the cigarette package, if serves to weigh down the package when inverted, for example in ones shirt pocket, without danger of losing any cigarettes from the package.

Further objects and advantages will be found -as the following description of the invention proceeds in regard to and in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of an opened soft-pack-type, cigarette package;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective and side views of the combined cigarette lighter casing and closure of the present inventron;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the closed and open positions, respectively, of the invention as used as a closure; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the upper portion of the lighter and clip with the lighter casing open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is particularly suitable for use with a softpack-type of cigarette package 1 l, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The top of the cigarette package 11, as is well known, includes two cross flaps l2, 13 joined together at their overlapped portions to form a bridge 14 there beneath over the top sheet or portion 16. The flaps l2, 13 are sealed together by the usual tax stamp 15. As is customary in use, the cigarette package 11 is opened by tearing out those portions of the cross flaps I2, 13 and top sheet 16 on one side of the tax stamp 15, exposing the cigarettes 17.

As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the combined lighter casing and closure means of the invention include a U-shaped resilient clip 1 formed of one solid piece of metal and/or plastic, or composition thereof, folded slightly ofl center forming curved top 2 with a spacing or opening 3 between the resilient upper leg 8 and lower leg 9 of the clip 1. The comers 4 of the clip 1 are rounded to form smooth edges and the upper leg 8 is tapered at its end to assist in an easy sliding and gripping ac tion. The clip 1, in being folded slightly off center, provides a tongue and/or guide portion 5 for direction and guidance in sliding on the cigarette package 11 with case.

A cigarette lighter casing 10 is attached to the clip I by a magnet and/or tabs or by, for example, soldering. The folded portion of upper leg 8 serves as a flame shield for protection of the pack when the lighter is ignited and it can be coated with or made of an appropriate nonheat conductive material. The upper leg 8 can be made as short or as long as is desired within the range of the lower leg 9.

The lighter casing 10 further includes a top I8 hinged to the main casing 19 by means of hinge 20. As is shown in Figure 6, the casing 10, when open, is free to fall back on and flush with the side of the main casing 19 so as to butt, giving freedom to remove and replace when desired the lighter element carried in the casing 10.

In use, the combined lighter casing and closure means is attached to the top of cigarette package 11 by means of the clip 1. The tongue 5 inserted under the bridge 14 and the clip slipped onto the package with the lower leg 9 placed under the bridge 14 formed by the tax stamp I5 and the flaps 12, I3 and the upper leg 8 riding over and on top of the package 11. The U-shaped clip 1 thus holds by a resilient, friction grip or ent gagement the flaps l2, l3 and tax stamp l5 and is thus slidably attached to the package.

As is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the combined lighter casing and closure means of the invention is slid back and forth sideways to open (FIG. 5) and close (FIG. 4) the opened portion of the top of the cigarette package 11. When closed, the invention thus provides a top to prevent cigarettes from falling from the package.

As is best seen in FIG. 6, the lower or main portion 19 of the lighter casing 10 is located on the clip so that, when opened, the drive wheel 21 of the lighter extends nearly flush with the top 2 of the clip 1. The wick 22 of the lighter is ignited by passing ones thumb or other finger across the upper edge 2 of the clip, thus engaging the drive wheel 21 which, when rotated, ignites the wick in the well-known way. The clip 1 thus serves as a guide for the lighter drive wheel 2l which assists in the one-hand operation of the invention. The exten sion of the wheel 21 need not be exactly flush with the top 2 of the clip 1 because of the softness and give of the human flesh, but it must be at least in close proximity to still permit the top 2 to serve as a guiding element.

Depending on whether the user is left-handed or righthanded, the cigarette lighter element can be inserted in the casing 10 with the drive wheel 21 either to the left or to the right.

The present invention thus, not only serves as a means of combining and attaching a cigarette lighter and a cigarette package, but also serves as a simple but highly convenient and reliable means for opening and closing a cigarette package.

From the foregoing it can be seen that simple, efficient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages described above. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction and arrangements of parts shown and described above as the preferred embodiment which has been given by way of exemplary illustration only.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. In combination with a soft package of cigarettes having top closure flaps secured together and with a partial opening therein; a mechanical cigarette lighter having a wheel, flint and wick at one end for striking a flame and adapted to fit on said cigarette package top; and a clip dimensioned similarly to said lighter, said clip comprising two approximately parallel legs flexibly joined at a common end and having separate ends oppositely disposed therefrom, said clip being secured by one said leg with its common end adjacent the end of the lighter for striking a flame, and with the other leg extending longitudinally free for the length of said lighter, said legs slidably engaging the closure flaps of the cigarette package therebetwecn with the attached lighter thereabove, said free leg covering said partial opening when said legs fully engage said top and uncovering said partial opening when not so fully engaged, whereby a one-armed person can obtain a cigarette and a light without other assistance than said combination.

2. A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said lighter comprises a case with a snap end covering said wheel, flint and wick slidably mounted therein, said parts fitting in said case when rotated thereby making the invention usable by fightand left-handed persons. 

1. In combination with a soft package of cigarettes having top closure flaps secured together and with a partial opening therein; a mechanical cigarette lighter having a wheel, flint and wick at one end for striking a flame and adapted to fit on said cigarette package top; and a clip dimensioned similarly to said lighter, said clip comprising two approximately parallel legs flexibly joined at a common end and having separate ends oppositely disposed therefrom, said clip being secured by one said leg with its common end adjacent the end of the lighter for striking a flame, and with the other leg extending longitudinally free for the length of said lighter, said legs slidably engaging the closure flaps of the cigarette package therebetween with the attached lighter thereabove, said free leg covering said partial opening when said legs fully engage said top and uncovering said partial opening when not so fully engaged, whereby a one-armed person can obtain a cigarette and a light without other assistance than said combination.
 2. A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said lighter comprises a case with a snap end covering said wheel, flint and wick slidably mounted therein, said parts fitting in said case when rotated 180* , thereby making the invention usable by right-and left-handed persons. 